Blackadder to head 2009 Crusade?
July 22 2008
According to a New Zealand newspaper report, former All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder and current Crusaders assistant coach Mark Hammett have been picked to succeed Wallabies coach Robbie Deans at the helm of the 2008 Super 14 Championship winning side.
The pair are expected to be assisted by another former Crusaders stalwart, Daryl Gibson, the Dominion Post reported, however Crusaders chairman Murray Ellis said no decision had yet been made.
The Crusaders lost their head coach after winning the title this year when Robbie Deans signed a four-year deal to coach Australia.
"We are aware of the speculation, and that's all it is at the moment," Ellis told NZPA.
"We have not made an announcement and we're not ready to at this stage.
"There is still work going on, and until we have completed that we can't really comment because it would be unfair to everybody."
Ellis said confirmation of the Crusaders coaching line-up for 2009 could be made as early as Wednesday.
Blackadder had a playing and coaching stint in Scotland after wrapping up his New Zealand playing career in 2001.
He played 71 games for the Crusaders, 128 matches for Canterbury and captained the All Blacks in ten of his twelve Tests.
Blackadder is currently coach of Air New Zealand Cup side, Tasman.